😐A single person spends $2,568 per month in Dordrecht vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,613 per month in Dordrecht vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,657 per month in Dordrecht vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Dordrecht costs about 198% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Dordrecht sits 92% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.28€15.13
$1.96฿65.8
781.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.7€82.1
$18.35฿617
410.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.48€10.93
$7.48฿252
66.84%
Cappuccino
$3.81€3.33
$2.02฿67.8
88.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53€3.09
$0.85฿28.50
315.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17€2.77
$0.36฿11.96
780.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.75€5.91
$2.14฿71.8
215.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.67€4.96
$3.59฿121
57.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.12
$1.65฿55.5
-22.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27€1.99
$1.57฿52.7
44.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.11€2.72
$1.19฿40.02
161.34%
Eggs
$4.70€4.12
$1.94฿65.1
142.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.06€12.32
$16.19฿544
-13.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.52€13.59
$2.99฿101
419.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.63€14.57
$10.94฿368
52.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.08
$2.71฿91.2
-12.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.15
$1.17฿39.25
109.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.69฿56.7
17.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.73€4.14
$1.60฿54.0
195.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.78
$1.38฿46.54
47.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.75
$1.20฿40.45
66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25€1.09
$0.67฿22.50
86.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.75
$0.56฿18.73
53.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.83€12.11
$4.64฿156
198.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27€6.37
$17.62฿593
-58.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.32
$1.86฿62.5
-19.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.39
$3.30฿111
-17.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.55€3.98
$0.88฿29.68
417.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$92.8€81.3
$19.34฿650
379.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.93€3.44
$1.36฿45.90
188.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.87
$1.34฿44.98
58.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.67€24.24
$8.21฿276
237.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23€1.95
$1.22฿41.18
82.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K€31.4K
$21.4K฿718.1K
67.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K€28.9K
$22.5K฿757.7K
46.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239€209
$70.7฿2,376
238.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.77€26.07
$14.04฿472
112.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6€46.07
$17.49฿588
200.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.84€35.77
$42.15฿1,417
-3.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.69€21.62
$6.88฿231
258.87%
Cinema Ticket
$16.46€14.42
$5.92฿199
178.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,195€1,922
$309฿10.4K
611.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,006€6,136
$14.9K฿500.4K
-52.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1€76.3
$55.8฿1,875
56.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.65€30.35
$26.11฿878
32.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2€83.4
$83.0฿2,792
14.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153€134
$70.5฿2,369
117.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,649€1,445
$432฿14.5K
281.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,191€1,043
$239฿8,035
398.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,294€2,009
$822฿27.7K
179.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,684€1,474
$512฿17.2K
228.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,402€3,855
$1,915฿64.4K
129.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,827€3,351
$1,467฿49.3K
160.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,359€4,693
$579฿19.5K
824.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.3
5
-14.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dordrecht: July 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,649 in Dordrecht versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 825% higher in Dordrecht, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Dordrecht versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Dordrecht vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dordrecht or Chiang Mai?
Dordrecht costs about 198% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Dordrecht and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,852 per month in Dordrecht and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dordrecht or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Dordrecht and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $2,195 per month in Dordrecht and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Dordrecht or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Dordrecht, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dordrecht or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Dordrecht at $2,568. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dordrecht it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dordrecht or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $2,568 in Dordrecht. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dordrecht compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Dordrecht or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dordrecht makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.